Earl Chevalier

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11:00 A.M. on Friday, March 9, 2012 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN with Father Thomas Friedl officiating.VISITATION : 5-8:00 P.M., with a family prayer service at 7:00 P.M., on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.INTERMENT : Lakeview Cemetery in Nevis, MNSURVIVORS : His only son, Charles (Rochelle "Shelly") Chevalier; 4 grandchildren: Raymond, Daniel, Jamie and Will and 7 great grandchildren. EARL R. CHEVALIERFebruary 23, 1927 ~ March 5, 2012 Earl Raymond Chevalier, age 85 of Park Rapids, MN passed away on Monday, March 5, 2012 at St. Joseph"s Hospital in Park Rapids, MN. Earl Chevalier was born on February 23, 1927 to Raymond and Esther (Lueck) Chevalier in South Minneapolis, MN. He attended the South Minneapolis public schools. At the age of 17, Earl"s mother signed for him to enlist in the United States Coast Guard. After his honorable discharge, he came back home and started working as a cement finisher. Earl met the love of his life, Joan Thomsen, while rollerskating and later the same day he "crashed" the hayride she was on to meet her. Earl and Joan were united in marriage on May 20, 1950 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Minneapolis, MN. Their union was blessed with 4 children: Charles, Vivian, David and Maria "Dee". Earl took out a VA loan and bought their first home in Minneapolis, across from Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church where they attended and the children went to grade school. Earl continued working as a cement finisher for the Minneapolis School Board until he retired in his early 50"s. While helping a friend build a brick chimney in his home on Little Sand Lake near Park Rapids, MN, Earl fell in love with the area and bought a home on the other side of Little Sand where he has resided ever since. Earl was quite the outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, ice fishing, duck hunting, deer hunting and camping. Earl"s life was deeply saddened by the deaths of three of four children; his son, David who died in infancy of crib death; Maria who was killed in an auto accident in 1994 and Vivian who died after a valiant battle against cancer in 1997. His life was forever changed with the death of his wife, Joan in 2005. He was an avid golfer for many years until his health started to decline. He was a member of the Headwaters Country Club and St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. Earl will be lovingly remembered by his only son, Charles (Rochelle "Shelly") Chevalier; 4 grandchildren: Raymond, Daniel, Jamie and Will; 7 great grandchildren; other relatives and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joan; his son, David and his 2 daughters, Maria and Vivian. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, March 9, 2012 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN with Father Thomas Friedl officiating. Barb Fick will be the accompanist with the Alleluia Choir providing the music. Casketbearers will be: Raymond Earl Chevalier, Delbert Cannon, Al Cannon, Brandth Leander, Bill Ladely and Don Robards. Honorary casketbearers will be: Daniel Chevalier, Bob Craig, Will Engels and Jamie Engels. Military honors will be provided by Star of the North Marine Corps League. Interment will be held at the Lakeview Cemetery in Nevis, MN. Visitation will be held from 5-8:00 P.M., with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M., on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.